Police Scotland launches student safety campaign

Dawn Renton

With nearly half a million students studying in Scotland from September, Police Scotland is launching a campaign to give students top tips on how to enjoy the benefits of student life while avoiding its potential pitfalls.

Police Scotland is working with student associations to promote the keep safe messages of the Student safety campaign, as Scotland’s Universities and further education colleges will be hosting more than 470,000 students.

The campaign is about ensuring students start their university career the right way.

By providing advice on how to stay safe, not just on campus but at home and online too. Police Scotland wants students to have the best start to their university life. Just a few tips are:

• Record details of all your valuables and mobile property, including phones, laptops, cameras and tablets at www.immobilise.com

• Use privacy settings on social networking sites and use different passwords for each online account and making sure your anti-virus software is up-to-date

• Think carefully about who you make an online friend

• Be careful of what you post online

• Stick with friends and don’t leave parties or nights out with strangers

Chief Inspector Scott Tees, Safer Communities, said: “For many becoming a student is a life changing and life enhancing experience – that’s why Police Scotland wants to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable time during your studies. Our campaign is to raise awareness amongst students about the importance of keeping safe throughout student life.

“We would hope that students will take a few minutes to download our Police Scotland student safety guide which contains useful tips on how to stay safe, be that on campus, at home or socialising both online and in person.”

Alastair Sim, Universities Scotland’s director, said: “We want all of our students, from home and overseas, to enjoy their higher education experience to the full. Universities take their responsibilities for the safety of all students incredibly seriously, and we encourage all students to note Police Scotland’s helpful safety advice as the new academic year gets underway. We hope all students and staff in our university communities will continue to look out for one another on campus, at home and online.”